[Paul Bunyan ATK 2600 → 3100]
"Now Paul Bunyan's ATK surpasses Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Since you've given up on attacking, I'll take the initiative!"
With her Fusion Summon complete, Akasha pressed forward, determined to break through the White Dragon's frontline.
"I activate the effect of Ideal King of Knight! Once per turn, I can target 1 'Heroic Spirit' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it!"
A pulse of light surged from the King's holy sword—cross-shaped radiance bursting across the battlefield, guiding the slumbering soul of a Heroic Spirit back into this world.
The card Akasha retrieved from her Graveyard was the one she had deliberately sent earlier as Fusion Material—her key to slaying the remaining Blue-Eyes.
"London's Death Mist! Summon—Heroic Spirit – Jack the Ripper! Now… let the hunt begin!"
[Heroic Spirit – Jack the Ripper ★★★★★★(Level 6)][DARK][Zombie/Effect][ATK 800 → 1300 / DEF 1000 → 1500]
A dense fog blanketed the field. Using her effect, Jack forced Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon into Defense Position—then, with a single merciless slash, she executed the trapped dragon within her personal killing zone.
"We are fire, rain, strength—bringing slaughter forth… 'Maria the Ripper'!"
"Jack the Ripper's effect: when she attacks a Defense Position monster, she destroys it by effect without applying damage calculation!"
[Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon – Destroyed]
"It's not over yet! Next—Paul Bunyan's attack!
Crush the White Dragon!"
"Marvelous Exploits!"
The colossal Bunyan, nearly reaching the cavern ceiling, brought her massive weight down in a devastating impact. With ATK surpassing 3000, she smashed straight through Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
[Kaibaman LP 4000 → 3900]
Kaibaman raised an arm to shield himself from the shockwave of Bunyan's gigantic stomp.
"Not bad, Akasha. I thought you only relied on trap cards."
"Don't underestimate me. I'm not someone who stays stagnant!"
"Hmph. Then you should know yourself well.
So why rely on vague, meaningless mysticism just because you lost your way for a moment?"
"That's completely different—don't twist the argument!
And you—clearly a guy who's never dated a day in his life—what gives you the right to lecture me like some seasoned veteran?!"
Akasha lifted her Duel Disk and activated Bunyan's effect, calling forth another Lily monster.
"Paul Bunyan's effect—'Happy Comrades A'!"
[If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle:
Target 1 'Lily' monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.]
Paul Bunyan: "Come and play with me~"
Nursery Rhyme: "Coming, coming! ٩(๑>◡<๑)۶"
[Heroic Spirit – Nursery Rhyme ATK 800 → 1300]
"With that, the combined ATK of Ideal King of Knights and Nursery Rhyme exceeds your remaining Life Points, Kaibaman!"
Jaden clenched his fists in admiration.
"What a relentless assault! Akasha is actually overpowering Kaiba-san—she's incredible!"
"Direct attack—Ideal King of Knights!"
"Ohhhh! My holy sword—guide me to victory!"
Artoria swung her golden blade downward, unleashing a blazing wave of sword energy that carved through the frozen ground as it roared straight toward Kaibaman.
Facing the approaching holy light, Kaiba flipped his Set card.
"I've been waiting for this! I activate my Set Trap—Counter Gate!"
[When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack:
Negate the attack, and if you do, draw 1 card. Then, if it is a monster, immediately after this effect resolves, you can Normal Summon it in face-up Attack Position.]
"Thanks to Counter Gate, your direct attack is negated—and I draw one card!"
"If it's a monster, you can Normal Summon it immediately? This rhythm… is he about to do that?"
Hoshino's eyes sparkled in anticipation.
"A miracle topdeck—Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Draw—!!"
Kaiba drew with theatrical flourish, the corner of his mouth lifting into a proud grin.
"Heh. Seems my luck isn't bad. I drew a monster."
He slammed the card onto his Duel Disk, and summoning light filled the icy arena.
[Sangan ★★★(Level 3)][DARK][Fiend/Effect][ATK 1000/DEF 600]
"Huh? Not Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"
The unexpected deviation from the "script" left Hoshino scratching her head.
"Don't tell me… Kaiba's wife finally abandoned him."
Now that she thought about it—Kaiba hadn't opened with Fusion or Polymerization for Ultimate Dragon, and the only Blue-Eyes he'd used was the one he pulled through the lottery machine.
Very strange indeed.
Staring at the comically tiny Sangan standing beside the massive dragons, Akasha burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha—what a weak monster! Just like your helpless struggle!
Nursery Rhyme, continue the attack!"
Even with Paul Bunyan's 500 ATK boost, Nursery Rhyme could easily destroy Sangan.
"I told you—grasping victory isn't about blindly attacking."
Kaiba flipped his second Set card.
"Rather, you should pay attention to the changes around you… Akasha."
"Changes…?"
Instinctively, Akasha glanced toward where Hoshino and Alexis were standing—
Only for her vision to be swallowed by a creeping purple smog.
"I activate the Trap Card—Crush Card Virus!"
[Tribute 1 DARK monster with 1000 or less ATK;
Check all monsters your opponent controls, their hand, and all cards they draw for the next 3 turns.
Destroy all monsters with 1500 or more ATK.]
"I Tribute my Sangan—and infect your field!
All of your monsters with 1500 or more ATK—destroyed!"
"Using the monster you summoned through Counter Gate… just to trigger a Virus Trap, huh?
You talk all high and mighty, but you were plotting against me the whole time."
Akasha clicked her tongue in irritation. But the golden light shining from the cards on her Duel Disk swept away the encroaching purple virus.
"However—my calculations were still one step ahead! Ideal King of Knights' effect! The holy sword cleaves through all darkness!"
[While this card is on the field, your "Heroic Spirit" monsters cannot be destroyed by card effects.]
Artoria plunged her golden holy sword into the frozen ground. A sacred barrier rippled outward beneath her, completely shielding Akasha's field.
"Your plan failed, Kaiba! And since you Tributed Sangan, Nursery Rhyme's attack becomes a direct attack!"
Nursery Rhyme opened her little book, unleashing a chaotic eruption of flames and ice that engulfed Masked Kaiba.
"Round and round the door will spin,
Bubble bubble, cauldron boil within!"
[Kaibaman LP 3900 → 2600]
"Such overwhelming advantage…! To think Akasha is fighting Kaiba-san on equal footing—she's this strong?"
Jaden, pure as always, had never questioned Kaiba's identity.
Hoshino, however, was becoming increasingly unsure of the true face behind that Blue-Eyes mask.
"My turn ends—your move!"
Akasha Set 3 cards.
"All your Blue-Eyes were wiped out, your trap tactics failed, and you have no cards left on the field. It's over, you self-important masked idiot."
Lowering her Duel Disk, Akasha wore the relaxed expression of someone assured of victory. With her overwhelming board and airtight trap line, whether Kaibaman tried to struggle or not, the outcome seemed predetermined.
"My turn—draw!"
Kaibaman glanced at the card he drew… and burst into loud, triumphant laughter.
"Hahahahaha! You're right—it is over.
Because I'm the one claiming victory!"
Akasha raised a golden eyebrow.
"Are you daydreaming? In this situation?"
"Watch closely! Last turn, the Virus wasn't meant to destroy your monsters. Its true purpose was to search for my game-changing key!"
He flipped the card in his hand toward her.
"When Sangan was sent to the Graveyard, its effect activated—allowing me to add a monster with 1500 ATK or less from my Deck to my hand.
And the card I added is—'The Light – Hex-Sealed Fusion'!"
"Another one?!" Jaden gasped.
At this point, it was almost suspicious how often this convenient substitute appeared in everyone's deck.
Kaibaman slapped the card onto his Duel Disk, summoning the small, glowing rock creature.
Akasha narrowed her eyes.
"And just what can you do with that one?"
Kaibaman slid a Spell Card into his Duel Disk.
"Don't forget the souls of the two White Dragons sleeping in my Graveyard. I activate the Spell—Dragon's Mirror!"
[Banish Fusion Materials listed on a Dragon Fusion Monster from your field or GY, and Fusion Summon that monster from your Extra Deck.]
"I banish The Light – Hex-Sealed Fusion, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon from my field and Graveyard!"
Hoshino instantly understood.
"With two Blue-Eyes and a Fusion Parasite…
The only possible Fusion Monster is—"
"Correct!!
Shatter! Burst! Roar with triumph—!!"
White energy howled through the icy arena.
Within the shattered mirror of dragons, the ultimate emperor spread its wings.
"Answer my blazing soul!
Transcend time and space, and descend before me—
The supreme emperor of all White Dragons!
Fusion Summon—Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!!!"
[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon ★★★★★★★★★★(Level 12)][LIGHT][Dragon/Fusion][ATK 4500 / DEF 3800]
"He actually summoned Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon instead of Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon?" Hoshino murmured.
Years ago, Kaiba had abandoned the standard Ultimate Dragon, replacing it with the higher-tier Neo version. Yet now, despite having the materials, he chose the ordinary one.
But even a standard Ultimate Dragon—combined with Kaibaman's overwhelming presence—was enough to stun Akasha, forcing her to take a step back.
"So this is the true Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon…
Hoshino-nee actually fought this thing back then…?"
Hoshino thought silently:
It's not your fault, Akasha.
I was scared the first time too.
Akasha clenched her fists, steadying herself.
Calm down.
Even Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon can't scare me—not with my current field.
Kaibaman nodded in approval.
"Not bad. At least you're handling it better than that Yuki-onna over there."
Indeed, the sheer pressure of Ultimate Dragon's divine presence nearly "purified" the white-haired yuki-onna on the spot. She trembled so violently she couldn't even speak.
Akasha sneered, stepping forward.
"Go on then, Kaiba. If you dare attack—try it!"
If he struck recklessly, Magic Cylinder or Dimension Wall would reflect everything.
"To grasp victory, defense, retreat, and observation are just as important as offense.
Because only when all preparations are complete…
Can the decisive strike truly be unleashed!"
Raising his final card high, Kaibaman roared:
"Love and Dueling are one and the same—remember this well, Akasha!
After all… your deepest wish is something I understand more than anyone."
"W–What?! You mean—"
His sudden, heavy declaration shook her to the core.
Of everyone present, only Akasha understood the meaning behind those words.
"It's time to end this!"
In unison with his dragon's roar, Kaibaman inserted the final card—unleashing a burst of pure white annihilation.
"—I activate the Spell Card—Neutron Blast!!!"
[Target 1 Fusion Summoned "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" you control.
This turn, that monster can make up to 3 attacks during the Battle Phase.
While it attacks, your opponent cannot activate the effects of Spells, Traps, or monsters until the end of the Damage Step.]
"With Ultimate Fusion Burst, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon can attack three times this turn!
And while it attacks—your monsters, your backrow, every effect you have—NONE of them can activate!"
A perfect, unstoppable finisher.
Three consecutive 4500 ATK attacks—
With absolute effect lockdown.
"PERFECT!
UNBEATABLE!
SUPREME!!
This is the triple annihilation—
Ultimate Fusion Burst!!!"
Faced with such overwhelming force, and with all her defenses sealed, Akasha had no means of resisting.
Even with her full 4000 LP, she fell like a candle in a hurricane.
[Akasha LP 4000 → 0]
[Winner: Kaibaman!]